SHAMSHABAD (UCAN): The Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church in India elected Bishop Raphael Thattil of the Diocese of Shamshabad, southern Kerala, as its major archbishop amid a raging liturgy dispute that has led to a serious division within the Church.
Pope Francis confirmed the election the same day, the Vatican announced on January 10.
Archbishop Thattil’s election followed the resignation of the previous head, George Cardinal Alencherry on 7 December 2023.
The election was announced at a press conference held at Mount St. Thomas, in Ernakulam, on January 10.
The 67-year-old Archbishop Thattil, who assumed his office on January 11, in his brief address, stressed the need for unity among members of the Church asserting that “my new role is to work with you.”
A bishop is not a personal property but a public property. My duty is to be with you. Let us work together. The shortcomings of one need to be rectified by the other
Major Archbishop Thattil
The archbishop said, “A bishop is not a personal property but a public property. My duty is to be with you. Let us work together. The shortcomings of one need to be rectified by the other.”
He called for mutual cooperation from bishops, priests, and laity, among others.
Archbishop Thattil also said that his style of functioning will involve “taking everyone into account” and added, “God will provide the required strength” to carry on with his new assignment in a very challenging time.
The new archbishop was the bishop of the Diocese of Shamshabad, one of the largest in the country spanning 22 states, since 2018. Previously, he was the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Trichur, which is also his home diocese.
He was born the last of 10 children on 21 April 1956, in Thrissur. He joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope in 1971, did his ecclesiastical studies in St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, and was ordained a priest on 21 December 1980.
Archbishop Thattil told the gathering that he remains the same “Thattil achan [Thattil priest], Thattil pitav [Thattil bishop], and the journey will continue.”
